According to Colossians 1:27, when you are born again Christ now lives in you. So, where is the presence of God? I’m not looking forward over here, or looking backward over there, or begging for it up there. I am relishing the abundance and living in the glory of His love and His life and His Spirit in me right now. I come boldly to His throne of grace and receive what I have need of from Him. I recognize that He lives in me, I live in Him, and His presence surrounds me.
Everywhere you go, God goes, because He authorizes us as His followers to go in His name. He says to us, “I’m on a journey with you. I’ll never leave you, I’ll never forsake you, and wherever you go I am ready to go with you.”
God always has a plan for you. He will never give up on you. He gave His very best for you, and He desires for you to experience all that He has for you!
When you are born of God and carry His Spirit in you, you consider things with an eternal viewpoint. You value things that others might consider foolish. Celebrate your difference!
There is nothing like the faithfulness of God! There is nothing like committing to Him and watching the delivering power of His Name, His Word, and His Love!
“If the Lord had not been on our side…” Psalm 124:1 What marvelous words! How many times can we think back and remember how the Lord has protected us, provided for us, and even comforted us?
God is a partner in our labor working things together for us. What a pleasure it is to trust in HIM, knowing that He is working behind the scenes on our behalf!
For many of us today, regardless of our society, we allow the phrases “NO! You can’t!” “NO! You shouldn’t!” “NO! That’s not right!” “NO! It’s not possible!” to control our destinies. Realize today that Christ takes the parentheses off your life. He puts a plus on your future because He says, “All things are possible, only believe!” (Mark 9:23 paraphrased)
Millions of people around the globe today, perhaps even billions, celebrate this Christmas Christ who lives in the heart.
This Christmas season, in whatever situation you find yourself, remember—Christmas is not a brightly decorated, commercial season, but it is rather a moment of time when God determined to put on human flesh and dwell among us.
Remember, the God who is the Creator of the universe and all that we see is not some ethereal, cosmic, mystic being. No! He is God with us, Emmanuel—the One who has come to live and dwell in our hearts!
We say to you: Merry Christmas! And may Christ dwell in your heart, and in your family!
William Booth is not a name most people recognize. He was a prominent Methodist evangelist living in mid-19th century London, England. One cold night as he returned home from a service, he noticed the poor and homeless sleeping under the London Bridge and was overcome with compassion for them. He decided at that moment that he had to do something to help them, and The Salvation Army was born.
In 1865 He and his wife Catherine opened The Christian Revival Society in London, and “Food for the Million” soup kitchens, which fed large bowls of soup and bread to the poor. They established lodging houses to shelter the homeless from the bitter winters.
Christmas was always the most demanding time of the year and everyone needed extra help and encouragement. Because of this, General Booth would send a telegram each Christmas Eve to his weary soldiers all over the world, to encourage them in their work.
In what would be his last Christmas, he composed a paragraph of heartfelt words to inspire his troops, but then realized the cost of sending it would be too much. He edited the paragraph into three sentences, then one sentence, then three words—and realized even that would be too many.
Finally, he decided to send only one word…one word that would continue to inspire his army to win souls, feed the hungry and give shelter to the homeless.
That word was simply, “Others.”
This Christmas season remember that Christ came to dwell in your heart and in the hearts of people. Allow Him to dwell in you and live through you—and let this Christmas be an “others-minded” Christmas!
